Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Huge election year worldwide sees weakening commitment to act on climate crisis

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 11:00:40 +0000

Among sweeping rightwing electoral victories across the globe, the ‘big loser of the elections has been climate’

An unprecedented year of elections around the world has underscored a sobering trend – in many countries the commitment to act on the climate crisis has either stalled or is eroding, even as disasters and record temperatures continue to mount.

First grey seal pup of the season born on Suffolk coast

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:00:39 +0000

Fourth consecutive year that seals have bred at Orford Ness, where more than 130 pups were born last season

The first grey seal pup of the season has been born at a remote shingle spit that was once a cold war weapons-testing site.

The birth at Orford Ness on the Suffolk coast marks the fourth consecutive year of seals breeding there, which began in 2021 after a reduction in visitor access because of the Covid pandemic.

Cop29: wealthy countries agree to raise climate finance offer to $300bn a year

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 07:45:50 +0000

EU and nations including the UK, US and Australia indicate they will make the increase in exchange for changes to a draft text, sources say

Major rich countries at UN climate talks in Azerbaijan have agreed to lift a global financial offer to help developing nations tackle the climate crisis to $300bn a year, as ministers met through the night in a bid to salvage a deal.

Cop29 live: rich nations to raise climate finance offer to $300bn as Thunberg warns summit ‘about to agree to death sentence’

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 06:46:37 +0000

The talks in Azerbaijan have seen nations at odds over how much money developed countries should provide to poorer ones

Marching in silence with their arms crossed high, activists from around the world protested the draft deal at the Cop29 venue last night.

“Pay up or shut up!” the campaign group Demand Climate Justice said in a post on social media.

Slovenian girl, 12, saves project aiming to reintroduce cicadas to New Forest

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 06:00:35 +0000

Conservationists failed to capture elusive insects this summer, so Kristina Kenda offered to step in

When British conservationists flew to Slovenia this summer hoping to catch enough singing cicadas to reintroduce the species to the New Forest, the grasshopper-sized insects proved impossible to locate, flying elusively at great height between trees.

‘Protect the climate for whom?’: Palestinians highlight Gaza at Cop29

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 05:00:33 +0000

Advocates and officials argue that consequences of Israeli siege are inextricably linked to tackling the climate crisis

As countries negotiate over climate finance, Palestinian officials and advocates have come to Cop29 in Baku to highlight global heating’s intersection with another crisis: Israel’s siege on Gaza.

Developing countries urged to reject ‘bad deal’ as Cop29 climate talks falter

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:17:47 +0000

Talk grows of a walkout from poor countries in response to ‘unacceptable’ and ‘insulting’ finance proposal

Developing countries were being urged by civil society groups to reject “a bad deal” at the UN climate talks on Friday night, after rich nations refused to increase an “insulting” offer of finance to help them tackle the climate crisis.

Asheville restores drinking water 53 days after Hurricane Helene – but not all are ready to sip

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:23:26 +0000

Residents concerned as North Carolina city lifts boil advisory and scientists detect lead in water at area schools

When the western North Carolina town Swannanoa was battered by Hurricane Helene in September, two large trees crushed Stephen Knight’s home. His family of six was launched into a complicated web of survival: finding a temporary home, applying for disaster relief, filing insurance claims.

Rachel Reeves standing firm against U-turn on inheritance tax for farmers

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:51:30 +0000

Chancellor understood to be determined to keep policy despite Treasury analysing ways to soften impact

Rachel Reeves is holding firm against a U-turn on inheritance tax for farmers, despite the Treasury analysing ways of softening the impact.

The chancellor is understood to be determined not to drop the policy even though some Labour MPs – and even ministers – are worrying about the political fallout that has led to farmers protesting in Westminster this week.

‘An AI Fukushima is inevitable’: scientists discuss technology’s immense potential and dangers

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:20:39 +0000

Experts are optimistic about energy and drug production breakthroughs but also fear its potential misuse

When better to hold a conference on artificial intelligence and the countless ways it is advancing science than in those brief days between the first Nobel prizes being awarded in the field and the winners heading to Stockholm for the lavish white tie ceremony?